Kellen Taylor is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates. Based in Charlotte, NC, he is also involved in fixed insurance advisory services. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and quantitative and fundamental research.

Brian Heath is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Wells Fargo since 1999 in various roles. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions on a non-discretionary basis. The firm operates through specialist divisions to develop model portfolios, serving as a research and model-provider rather than a direct portfolio manager or financial planner.

Lawrence Schierl is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at LPL Financial and SII Investments. Outside of financial services, Schierl is a partner at the Appleton Beer Factory. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans through advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary account options alongside brokerage services and manages over $8 billion in assets under management.

John Harrigan is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Clearing, and a variety of other financial firms. He has been with Citizens Securities since 2026. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, offering both investment advisory programs and brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides a digital advisory program managed with proprietary algorithms and a Managed Account program, and operates as a broker-dealer and insurance agency.

Bradley Hauser is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2014. He has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2013. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, operating as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor affiliated with Fifth Third Bank.

Jeffrey Howard is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 36 years of industry experience and has been with Guardian Life since 1999. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing multiple real estate investment entities and serves as trustee of a personal revocable trust. Guardian Life’s Park Avenue® Wealth Management provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, alongside a digital advisory solution, delivering tailored client relationships with access to insurance products and alternative investments.

Brandyn Shetler is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Kestra Advisory. Prior to this, he spent six years at The Vanguard Group. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and advisor-managed accounts. The firm serves large institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, and supports multiple management platforms and third-party solutions.

Matthew Vannelli is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license. He is currently with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. and has over 12 years of experience, including a long tenure at Citadel from 2012 to 2024. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and other financial institutions. The firm delivers these services on a non-customized basis and does not exercise investment discretion over the end accounts using its models.

Nicole Brandon is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC for six years and was self-employed for two years prior to that. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, nonprofits, and endowments with investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other strategies, supported by various specialized service lines and client education initiatives.

Jennifer Daley is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked extensively with Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as President of a local Business Network International chapter and sits on the Board of Directors for Screven Christian Academy. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers both discretionary management and model-based strategies, integrating proprietary and third-party platforms while also providing access to insurance products and alternative investments.

Michael Mann is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Equity Services, Inc. and has prior experience at Bankers Life Securities and Summit Advisory Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent with Stone Press Financial Group. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers.

Cindy Ghattas is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations and has been with Creative Planning since 2016. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term objectives while incorporating private market investments and other tailored solutions.

Jennifer Beaulieu is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 24 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Scott & Stringfellow, Raymond James & Associates, BB&T Investment Services, and Truist Investment Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, offering ongoing client monitoring and consultative services.

Rocco Testa Basi is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with less than one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Soundwater Properties, and Connecticut College. Wells Fargo Investment Institute specializes in manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, and model-portfolio services for Wells Fargo affiliates and other financial institutions. The firm provides non-discretionary, non-customized investment models developed by specialist divisions, rather than individualized portfolio management or financial planning.

Laura Brown is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. Her career includes tenures at LPL Financial, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and Centaurus Financial. Brown also manages an investment-related business within LPL Financial, dedicating significant time to it. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm utilizes a network model combining discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with technology platforms and access to third-party managers and estate-planning resources.

Jenny Fernandez is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley, First Republic Securities Company LLC, and PNC Bank. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services and operates as a registered broker-dealer with capabilities in securities transactions, variable insurance products, placement, and investment banking.

Michael Proud is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC. He has prior experience with Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing, and is also a co-owner of Nine Bridge Financial Partners LLC, an investment-related business. Concurrent Investment Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes customized, primarily long-term portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities, supported by affiliated sub-advisory arrangements and integrated platform solutions.

Zachary Kelly is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He has worked with First Citizens Investor Services since 2019 and was previously employed at First Citizens Bank from 2012 to 2026. Kelly serves on the advisory board of the Kraft Family YMCA, contributing to program oversight and fundraising efforts. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, model portfolios, a Guided Investing platform, and financial planning, utilizing a client-centered process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Thomas Harless is a CFP® professional with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with PNC Wealth Management and has previously worked at Fisher Investments, PNC Investments, and E*Trade Securities. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital account offering that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and third-party managed strategies primarily implemented with mutual funds and ETFs.

James Kirby is a ChFC® credentialed advisor with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at Equity Services, Inc. since 1998. He has prior experience with National Life of Vermont dating back to 1994. Outside of his advisory work, Kirby is a high-performance driving instructor and serves as a board member for a homeowners association. Equity Services, Inc., doing business as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios.